I Will not let Tharoor Succeed : Lalit Modi

New Delhi: Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi on Friday accused Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor of having an agenda in promoting the Kochi IPL fanchise, and asserted that he won’t let that agenda succeed.

“Tharoor has an agenda. I won’t let it succeed,” said Modi.

A private television channel quoted Modi as saying that he won’t allow any hidden agenda to take over IPL.

Modi further said that Tharoor wants the team to be based in Abu Dhabi, which he wouldn’t allow.

“I can’t understand why the team needs to be in Abu Dhabi. Shashi Tharoor’s agenda will be shut down, believe me,” said Modi.

Brushing aside all media reports that said Modi may step down from the post of IPL Commissioner and that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar may be appointed as the Co-Chairman of IPL, Modi said: “I am the IPL Chairman and will stay on.”

He also said neither the IPL shareholders nor the BCCI knew who Sunanda Pushkar was, and did not care who she was.

It may be recalled that the media had said that Pushkar had acquired Rs 70 crore equity in the Kochi IPL franchise.

About the reported intention to shift the Kochi IPL franchise to Abu Dhabi, Modi said that the “IPL is an Indian League and no IPL team would be allowed to establish a base outside India.”